Connecter for electrical lines



Jan. 19, 1932. JQNES CONNECTER FOR ELECTRICAL LINES I Filed March 11. 1929 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 I UNITED STATES HOWARD B. TONE, OF EVAN STON, ILLINOIS GONNECTER FOB ELECTRICAL LINES Application filed larch 11, 1929. Serial No. 346,005.

This invention relates to connecters for electrical lines, and has for its principal purpose the provision of a simple and easily assembled connecting device for a number of 6 lines, in which the socket elements may be readily removed or replaced without dlsturbing each other, thus permitting the individual wiring of the socket elements before their insertion in the block, if this is desired,

10 and permitting the checking of the mdivldual elements by their removal from the block.

My'invention also contemplates the provision, in a device of this character, of a novel socket element that provides a large contact 15 surface for a plug inserted therein, together with a strong spring pressure, so that the connection made is capable of carrying a large current without heating or sparking.

, Other objects and advantages of the inven- 20 tion will appear as the description proceeds,

in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is obvious, however, that mod1fications may be made from the exact structure shown without departing from the spirit of 25 the invention.

i In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a connecting block utilizing my improved socket;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 .is a perspectlve v1ew of the socket element removed from the insulating block in which it is mounted.

Referring now in detail of the drawings, the socket block 5 is preferably made of any insulating compound, and is provided with a series of apertures, such as indicated at 6 and -7, which apertures may be arranged in rows along the opposite sides of the block to such as indicated at 8. The apertures 6 and 7, as shown, are reduced at the top ends, as at 8 and 9, and enlarged slightly below the top ends to provide shoulders 10 and 11, and to provide a larger space for the socket elements 12.

The block 5 also has a. central ridge 13 extending below the main body of the block and providing a tapered wall, as shown at 14, between adjacent apertures 6 and 7. In

provide for receiving a multiplicity of plugs,

the base of the grooves formed by the extension of the apertures 6 and 7 over the portion 13 there are provided recesses 15, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The socket unit of this device is made of a single strip of metal which is doubled, as shown at 16, to provide the wiring attaching portion 17 that is apertured at 18, for convenience. The double portion 17 then has a tongue 19 struck out therefrom and adapted. to engage, when the socket is inserted in one of the openings 6 or 7, in the recess to normally hold the socket in place. One side of the double portion 17 is bent upwardly at 20 to separate the two portions of the strip, while the other side thereof continues substantially parallel to the double portion 17, but with a slight inclination in the direction in which the portion was bent at 20. The portion 21 is then bent to extend substantially parallel to the double portion 17, but extending at a slight angle toward the other portion 22. At a suitable distance from the upwardly bent portion 20, the side portions 21 and 22 are bent outwardly, as shown at 23 and 24, and are then doubled back upon themselves at 25 and 26 to extend between the portions 21 and 22, and curved toward each other until, in the normal position prior to insertion within the block 5, they touch each other at the points 27 and 28. The free ends are then flared outwardly, as at 29 and 30, a distance which slightly spaces them from the ad'acent surfaces of the portions 21 and 22.

ow, in insertin these socket members in the block 5, it is only necessary to press down upon the portion 23 a slight amount to cause it to enter the recess 6, and after that it is shoved into the recess until the ends, at25 and 26, are substantially in engagement with the shoulders 10 and 11, at which time the tongue 19 drops into the recess 15 and locks the socket in the recess 6. It is obvious, of course, that the socket may readily be removed by merely lifting up onthe portion 17 so as to lift the tongue 19 out of the recess 15 and then pulling the socket member out of the opening 6. his makes a very simple and effective means of mounting and dismounting the socket members of a connectin device, and also provides a socket which.

in es a ve ood contact, as will be hereinafter descri with a plug inserted therein. From an inspection 0 the right-hand socket 12 in Fig. 2, it will be noted that when the plu 8 is inserted between the portions 27 an 28 of the socket, these portions are pressed outwardly, so as to bring the ends 29 and directl mto engagement with .the rtions 21 an 22. Also the insertion of e plu 8 causes the flattening of the rtions 27 an 28 so that a long flat contact s made on both sides of the plug, thus insuring a contact of large current car mg capacity. A strong premure is a obtained, since e socket member is preferabl made of material having considerable resi ienc and, as shown, the compression of the en s 29 and 30 against the outer portions 21 and 22 of the socket causes them to exert a strong pressure on the portions 27 and 28, forcing them against the plu Similarly, where the plug enters between t e portions 23 and 24, 1t must 25 compm the double thickness of material, and

this insures a good solid contact at the enterin end of the socket.

irom the above description,it is thou ht that the construction and advantages of t is device will be clear to those skilled in this art, and, having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: w 1. A device of the character described comprising a socket element having opposed side portions provided with inturned end extensions lying between said side portions and adapted to engage a plu inserted therebetween, the side portions fieing connected to each other at their ends opposite said extensions, said end extensions having the free ends thereof turned outwardly so as to engage with said side portions when a plug is inserted between said extensions.

2. A device of the character described comprising a socket element having opposed side portions provided with inturned end extensions lying between said side portions and adapted to engage a plu inserted therebetween, the side portions being connected to each other at their ends opposite said extensions, said end extensionshaving the free ends thereof turned outwardly toward said portions and being curved between said outturned ends and their points of connection with said (portions so as to lie flat against opposite si es of a plug inserted therebetween 'fhrglllghout the greater portion of their 3. A device of the character described comprising an insulating body provided with an aperture therethrough and an internal shoulder adjacent one end of said aperture, a socket element having opposed spring fingers normally in engagement but adapted to be separated by the insertion of a plug therebetween said socket element being seated in said aperture with the plug receiving end adjacent said shoulder, and means adjacent the other end of said element releasably retaining it in said aperture.

A device of the character described comprising an insulating body provided with an aperture therethrough and an internal shoulder adjacent one end of said aperture, a socket element having opposed spring fingrs normall in engagement but adapted to separated y the insertion of a plug therebetween, said socket element being seated in said aperture with the plug receiving end adjacent said shoulder, and means adjacent the other end of said element releasably retaining it in said aperture, said means comprising cooperating projection and recess means on said element and body.

A device of the character described comprising an insulating body provided with an aperture therethrough and an internal shoulder adjacent one end of said aperture, a socket element having opposed sprin fin rs normally in engagement but adapted to, separate by the insertion of a plug therebetween said socket element being seated in said aperture with the plug receiving and adjacent said shoulder, and means ad'acent the other end of said element releasably retaining it in said aperture, said means comprising a lateral tongue on said element engaging a' recess in said body to revent endwise pressure on said element f i'om moving it out of saidaperture.

6. A device of the character described comprisin an insulating block having an aperture t erethrough, a socket element slidable into said a erture from one end thereof, and having a ree end portion and cooperating means on said body and element requirin movement of said end transversely of said aperture to remove said element, said element havin op osed side portions engaging the wal s of said aperture and sprin fingers integral with said side portions an lying therebetween for engagement with a plug inserted in said element.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of February, A. D.,

HOWARD B. JONES. 

